Fantasy Opera Films: A Symphony of Magic and Music

Description: This classic film, while not directly about opera, captures the essence of the art form through its balletic storytelling, where a ballerina must choose between love and her passion for dance, echoing the dramatic choices often found in opera.

Fact: The film's ballet sequence was choreographed by Robert Helpmann, who also stars in the film.

Description: This dark fantasy film uses operatic elements in its storytelling and music, presenting a surreal retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, where dreams and reality intertwine in a gothic opera of transformation and danger.

Fact: The film was directed by Neil Jordan, who also directed "Interview with the Vampire."

Description: This film, while not an opera, incorporates operatic themes through its score and the dramatic, larger-than-life performances of its characters, who are witches summoning a mysterious man into their lives.

Fact: The film was adapted from John Updike's novel and features a memorable score by John Williams.

Description: Directed by Ken Russell, known for his operatic style, this horror-fantasy film features a snake-worshipping cult and a giant snake, with operatic elements in its over-the-top performances and music.

Fact: The film was inspired by Bram Stoker's novel of the same name.

Description: This Italian film tells the story of a virtuoso pianist born on a ship, whose life is a symphony of music and solitude, blending elements of fantasy with operatic storytelling.

Fact: The film's title in English is "The Legend of 1900," but it's known in Italy as "The Legend of the Ocean Pianist."

Description: This film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous musical tells the story of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the Paris Opera House, falling in love with a young soprano. It's a perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and opera, with haunting melodies that echo through the halls of the opera house.

Fact: The chandelier crash scene was filmed in reverse to make the effect more dramatic. The film's score was nominated for an Academy Award.

Description: Although primarily a fantasy film, it includes operatic elements in its score and features a magical storyline where a young apprentice must harness his powers to save the world, with music playing a crucial role in his journey.

Fact: The film was inspired by the segment from Disney's Fantasia, which itself was based on Goethe's poem.

Description: While not an opera in the traditional sense, this film uses operatic elements in its score and storytelling, focusing on a modern-day witch who uses her beauty and magic to ensnare men, set against a backdrop of 1960s aesthetics and melodrama.

Fact: The film was shot on 35mm film to achieve a vintage look, and the director, Anna Biller, also designed the costumes and sets.

Description: This French film, while not a fantasy, incorporates operatic elements in its dramatic narrative and music, telling the story of a noblewoman caught in a love triangle during the French Wars of Religion.

Fact: The film was nominated for several César Awards, France's equivalent of the Oscars.

Description: Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this film brings Mozart's opera to life with a fantasy twist, following a young man's quest for love and enlightenment, guided by a magical flute. The film's setting and costumes add a whimsical touch to the operatic narrative.

Fact: The film was shot in the historic Drottningholm Palace Theatre in Sweden, where Mozart's opera was first performed in